CWRU produces new pamphlets on soul children
"Soul" is more than a catchy phrase when it comes to child-rearing,
often called the hardest task any individual can undertake. To present the basic
principles of raising children in a readable fashion, some local persons teamed
up to produce the Child Care Pamphlet series, published by the Press of Case
Western Reserve University.
The series was the brainchild of Peter Ernest Haiman, former director
of the Hough Parent and Child center and an assistant professor at Lake Erie
College. "I was very concerned that there is a whole segment of our population
that has been deprived of child-rearing and health information.," said
Haiman. He continued, "Such information has mainly been written in textbooks
geared for a middle-class clientele. It is very important to get this information
into a style that is relevant to parents in the inner city."
The first four books, written by Haiman and illustrated by Jennifer Myerberg,
an art student, teach parents in a lively way, yet without preaching to them.
For example, one - "Kids Copy Their Parents", warns "Careful
what you're saying dude". It goes on, "sometimes kids can
get their mother uptight...This mother feels uptight, but she tries to keep
herself together and not hit her kid. She tries to keep her cool because she
doesn't want her child to copy her behavior."
Another book, entitled "Soul Mother", gets to the heart -_ and
soul -- of being a good parent. Soul is cuddling up your baby. Mothers get satisfaction
from holding their children. Babies like a lot of loving", writes Haiman.
The bright booklet also relates, "Soul is also playing with your child...Soul
is singing or talking to your child...Soul is a baby smiling and cooing
at the sound of his mother's voice."
The two other pamphlets are "When Kids Fight Over Toys",, which
teaches cooperation and "brotherhood", and "Keep Babies Busy",
which emphasizes the importance of a stimulating environment for babies. All
of the books are available from neighborhood centers or from the CWRU press.
In addition, suggestions from inner-city persons for future booklets in the
continuing series are being solicited. Others in preparation discuss health,
nutrition, discipline and safety precautions. However, it is hoped that an inner-city
person and a professional could work together in producing a relevant pamphlet
for the community. After all, the "soul" of inner-city kids is at
stake.
SOUL BABY
This drawing is one of many in an interesting and informative child care series,
published to relate especially to inner-city parents.
This newspaper article appeared in the Cleveland, Ohio's THE CALL and
POST, Saturday August 26, 1972, p. 8B
